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Thursday, 29 November 2012

Firstly... I want to say Thank You to the Passion for Promarkers blog, as I've won a prize with this card... can't believe it!

That really got my day off to a great start yesterday. I really enjoyed making the card above too - totally out of my comfort zone working with the grungy type of look, but I loved this card.

Today, I have lots of crafting going on ready for the weekends demo's and next weeks shows on Create and Craft. But the main thing is to try and stay warm! At least it's stopped raining now, all ready for the snow this weekend! Perfect!

Anyway.. onto today's post, and I'm feeling Tatty-fied again.. so thought I'd share this little card with you. I really love this new range from Docrafts, and the colours in the papers when combined with Kraft card are just beautiful.

Now, I'm not one for distressing edges etc, but did a little bit on this card. Check below to see how I did it.

How I did it...

Work those edges - I decided that my main card was going to be cream because I wanted to dust around the edges with brown dye ink. I just plonk a bit of ink onto my glass cutting mat, then pick up the ink with a dry baby wipe which I wrap around my finger tip. Rub OFF then ON to the paper in a circular motion and you'll get those perfect dusty edges.

Doodle it - When you have finished dusting around the edges of your paper, take an Artiste pen in a coordinating colour and create a couple of doodle lines around the edge. Try not to get them straight, keep them creatively wonky ( !! ) to make them flow a little simpler.

Glitz and Glamour - If you dislike the feeling of glitter on your desk, or on your fingers, then with these decoupage images you don't need to worry! The glitter is encapsulated into the card so it doesn't shed. And all the decoupage is die cut. Win Win if you ask me!

To bow or not to bow - that was the question! So for this card, I decided to use wide cream Anita's ribbon and just simply loop it across the card. Stick a length of double sided tape across the card, then cut a length of ribbon longer than the card. Cut both ends to an angle, then stick onto your card, you can then loop equally on both sides of the image.

Perfect layering - Kraft cardstock is one of my all time favourites at the minute. It really doesn't matter what colour cardstock you put it with, it will work perfectly! I used it with the Me to You double sided papers to contrast with the soft pinks and whites, and you can see just how lovely it is.

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

What a surprise it was this morning to wake up and find it only cold, not raining! I'm pretty sure that the woofers are happy about that as they may realise they aren't going to wash away now... hehe.

Joking aside, hasn't the weather been absolutely awful this past few days? I'm hoping that everyone who reads my blog is staying safe and warm.

Today, I want to show you a card from the absolutely beautiful Me to You With Love range... this was on my show last week, or you can see it at my demonstrations. I am up in Huddersfield this Saturday at Armitages Garden Centre, so if you're passing please call in and say hello. It would be lovely to see you.

How I made it..

Keep it Simple - The main image of this card is from the die cut decoupage kit, which not only means they don't take any cutting (perfect for me!!) but there is also quite a bit of depth to it. So, to keep the eye focused on the main image, I have kept the background simply layered and then mounted the image on cardstock layers.

Give it the edge - To accent the edges of the layers of paper, just go around the edges of it with a coloured pen. I have used the Docrafts Artiste pen in black. This makes the paper stand out from the background of the card.

A little bit of glitter - This wonderful Me to You range has the glitz and glamour that you need! The glitter is encased within the glue, so if you don't like the feel of glitter this is perfect for you as it doesn't shed! You can see the sparkle on the image below.

Texture, texture, texture - With the decoupage and glittering, this card is already quite tactile. I decided to add a little bow from wide satin ribbon and finish it with a button and some raffia. Raffia goes with anything at all, and it's a perfect combination with the red tones in the image and papers.

So there you have it... my card for today. I hope you check back tomorrow for another little creation.

Monday, 26 November 2012

The weather has really taken a turn for the worse this past week - lots of flooding everywhere, over 200 flood warnings, flood alerts and the like, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everyone stays safe out there.

We're very lucky to not live anywhere near water, so I don't quite need to grow my waterwings and webbed feet at the moment!

So, today... I'd like to share a few photos with you to celebrate nature at it's best.

This first photo was of some funghi that the hubby noticed when out walking with the woofers. He came home and told me about the small collection that was going on under the said tree, so I ventured out, armed with his fuji camera and snapped these beauties!

Ever since I did my photography course years ago (and yes, I have letters after my name as a result!) I have loved taking natural history photographs. In fact, my final assesment was flora and fauna, and I even managed to have a four page spread in Amateur Photography as a result!! So chuffed was I!

Anyway, I digress..... Red Caps (the Fly Agaric) are amongst my favourite funghi - so bright and colourful against the autumn tones that you'd find them nestled amongst at this time of year.

This little one was just sat all by itself, and I thought the leaves just added to the feel of the picture. I think these funghi are pretty cool.. I hope you do too!

Now.. this little view is from the back of the house. My daughter shouted me - as she has a thing about clouds! - and told me that the sky looked beautiful... so again, grabbed hubby's small fuji camera (because it's quicker to find!) and snapped this picture. Cool eh?

I did darken the image VERY slightly, so the houses were more in silhouette.

I hope you like today's post.. back with crafty bits and bobs tomorrow - I spent yesterday making my room a little tidier, so I can now at least get to the desk! That's always a bonus isn't it.. lol.

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Well, surprise surprise... I managed to get back to my blog to bring you another little Christmas card as promised.

I really can't believe Christmas is coming around so quickly - although this year, I am very prepared and just need to pick up one more present. Usually, I'm still shopping around a few days before! I've already posted some cards and need to get my finger out next week and get making my special ones.

So.. today's card was one that was asked for, for a Grandson, and I thought this little image was so cute. I really like making cute cards, so it's no surprise the little ted caught my eye in the pack.

How I did it...

Match it up - Using mirror card for the layers helped to bring out the wonderful gold foiling on the topper. As there was alot of white on the image, a white card was used for the base. Remember to leave a small border all the way around the edges to contain the design.

All about texture - Combine the traditional colours of christmas with something a little softer. The net bow adds a little bit of elegance to the image. Layered up with twine and a button makes the card a bit more tactile for a child. Just remember to stick it on well!

Make it softer - traditional colours are great as a contrast to the more contemporary ones in this topper. To soften the edges to help them blend in, file lightly with a nail file to bring out some of the base colour.

Little details - if you cannot find the right sentiment for your topper, use rub on letters to create it. These are small Doodlebug rub ons and the heart on the hat is from the same pack.

I hope you like the card, and I hope you like the details that I've given. This is something I've been thinking of doing for a while now, so we'll see how we go..

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Well, it's a very wet, miserable and grey day here in Doncaster again. Perfect day to get stuck in to making more samples for my upcoming shows on Create and Craft I think.. then I can sit and relax this evening. Great idea me thinks...

Today, I have something a little different to show... I have made a Christmas card to fit in with the challenge over at the Promarker Challenge blog. I just loves my alcohol markers, so it was great fun to get them out to play.

Here's my card.

Sorry for the quality of the picture - I must really get my camera back out and stop being so lazy, taking pictures on my phone... the quality really isn't that great!

Anyway.. I've coloured onto the wonderful Papermania Kraft card, love this stuff... and I've coloured with the promarkers. I did add a little black shadow with pencils. I've noticed the oval looks really squint on this photo, in fact it is rather oval-ly and fits the frame really well!

Here's a little close up of the colouring.

I'll be back tomorrow with a really cute little commissioned card... hope you check back soon!

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

This weekend went past in a bit of a hurry! I did promise to come back and upload a few cards for you, but never really had chance. I've enjoyed a very lovely, peaceful weekend with the Mr... but today, I have got two cards to show you!

I am not tiring of the Art Deco at all... I am loving it more every time I get the pack out! I was asked to make a few special Christmas cards so thought I would treat myself to a pack to use and came up with these two cards.

Now, the images aren't necessarily Christmas, but they can be used for any occasion as you can see.

I chose two of my favourite images to use on the cards, and made these into 8 inch square cards. I think the beauty of these images needs the larger size cards. The one above I've used a die cut border on each side and kept it quite nice and simple. Just matching up the colours of the background to the dress and a little bit of silver mirror card finishes it.

This was the second card... and I LOVE this image. The decoupage is stunning and the foiling that is on these designs is amazing. Absolutely beautiful.

With this one, I went with gold mirror card because of the gold foiling on the dress.

I used some Christmassy papers that I had in my box and again, a little die cut to decorate. For the main part of the image, I filed around the edges to give it a light distressed look.

Well, I hope you love these images as much as I do.... and if you've used the Art Deco range, pop by and tell me... and I'll come and take a peep.

Friday, 16 November 2012

How are we all? Sooooooo sorry that I haven't managed to be around for a few days (well, over a week!) but just when you think that you may have a bit of time, things take over and you end up running yourself ragged. I'm sure you know that feeling well!!

So, what have I been upto? Well, I had a show or two on Create and Craft to get myself organised for, and a couple of demos too, one last Saturday at a fab little shop up in Oldham - Sophies Crafts - and also one yesterday, Thursday, in Ashbourne at Fairways Garden Centre. I had a very busy couple of days, both different types of demos so lots of sorting for those.. but all went well, so I'm a happy bumpkin!

One of the cards I made to take to my demo's with me this past few months was this one below.. just a simple stamped one layer card. I opted to use the boofle-y cute (get it?!) stamp from the new range of Boofle Christmas (available from Docrafts stockists) and I've coloured it in with watercolour pencils.

The one thing I love about doing my demo's is meeting wonderful crafters, and sharing ideas, and the technique I've used to colour this image is one I learned from Kat, a fantastic colourist who works at Craft Central in Derby.. honestly, her colouring is to die for, and we had a little lunchtime tutorial the other week. So, Thank you Kat, you're a treasure!!

Here's the image a little closer up... isn't Roofle the Reindeer a great little character!

And here he is again a little closer up. Pictures were taken on my mobile, so I do apologise for the fuzziness..

Anyway, that's all for now. My aim today is to take lots of photos of my projects and start to get them uploaded a little more often.. lol. Famous last words me thinks, but I do have a few days off.

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Firstly - sooooo sorry for everyone who signed up for the Card a Day Facebook challenge for coming up to Christmas. I'm failing VERY miserably to keep up with photographing the cards I've made, as I've been running around the country quite busily.. lol.

This last couple of weeks has seen me in Peterborough, Derby, Bournemouth, and this weekend up in Manchester. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I got back from a couple of days in Bournemouth, as I was helping Emma with Creativity TV yesterday. Today, they are filming with a very special new guest - Such a bubbly, lovely, friendly character I'm sure you're going to love!!!!

We even got our beloved Katy to call in with some extra special bits and pieces!!! So awesome! That's all I'm saying!!

I was feeling a little delicate yesterday with a migraine - today I have a woolly head (those who have migraine will know what I mean!!) so feeling a little fuzzy. Today, it's the quiet-lets-cuddle-the-fluffywoofers-time today I think... that always makes things better doesn't it! I did however, find time to call in for some supplies for an upcoming Create and Craft show or two, and as usual, it's lovely to call in the office and see everyone who makes Docrafts so successful!

Last week I was demoing down in Derby at Craft Central and had the difficult task of judging a competition they had in store to win a VERY large decopatch giraffe called Hamish. I was also there working with the FAB new Craft Essentials supplies from Docrafts - Art Deco, Me to you Love and Just to Say ranges.. they are all really lovely. Personally love it all - and really really like the art deco images! So different and classy! I will take some pictures of my samples later hopefully, and upload them when I can. But pop on over to the Docrafts site to get inspiration from the project section.

About Me

Welcome to my blog!
I hope you find a few things on here that inspire you... there are lots of things to look at - stamping, decoupage, die cutting, crafting and tutorials.... and most importantly - general chatter about most things I get around to doing...
I hope you can join me on my Creative journey.